Penang Food Guide Part 2: Best Char Kway Teow, Best Har Mee and Best Nasi Kandar in Penang

This will be part II of my Penang Food hunt – featuring the best Penang food within walking distance from Tune hotels Penang.Many regarded Penang as the food capital of Malaysia. The stories of every place having good char kway teow or nasi kandar in Penang is a common perception, which I’m inclined to agree – I personally had like 8 char kway teow from different coffee shops and they’re all better than what I had in Brunei – I also had a lot of Lor Mee, Prawn Mee (Hockien Mee), Curry Mee and Nasi Kandar – and I narrowed it down to a selected few for those who have a shorter time in Penang so you could just go to the best ones I’ve tried.

If you had not read part 1 for Assam Laksa and Penang Cendol - it’s best to check it out first here <--- Click click

 

This guide will provide useful map and step by step walking directions to ensure you get the best Penang Food out of your trip – I’ve done all the necessary research and tested it out for you. Say hello to the Penang Food Guide specially for tourists Part II, where no cabs are needed and all you need is to walk around to savour the delicious Penang delicacies! I hope you’re hungry because we’re gonna eat around the clock in Penang!

Previously – we finished our trip around tea time at Starbucks which is next to Tunes hotel. To begin part II – we will start around night time around 8pm – after a good rest at the hotel. Just near the hotel along the same street – next to the Pastry shop Ming Xiang Tai restaurant is the famous Old Green House restaurant, specializing in Hokkien Mee (Prawn Noodles) and Loh Mee.

What’s interesting about this restaurant is that you can Jia Liao (add toppings) to your noodles.

 

As you can see – there are lots of toppings for you to choose to enhance your dining experience.

 

Hmm – so much to choose – wonder what should I pick?

 

Their Hokkien mee has a nice bright red colour and be wary of their chili paste – it’s very spicy so don’t add too much at once or it will spoil your soup! Only add bit by bit and taste test. It has a pretty good prawn flavour.

 

I must say their Lor Mee is pretty good – especially with pork toppings. I opted for roasted pork and loved the combination!

 

You simply cannot say no to this Lor Mee! Delicious!

Old Green House Restaurant (老青屋)
223 Burma Road
Opens from 8pm to 4am (Closed on Sundays)

 

On the next agenda – it’s going to be a heavy dinner/supper. I was told that Penang serves the BEST Nasi Kandar ever! So this would be a good time to enjoy your last meal of the day. I have a friend who tells me that every Nasi Kandar stall is good in Penang – but there’s bound to be a favourite or THE BEST stall. After research – I narrowed it down to Nasi Kandar Beratur, Nasi Kandar Kassem and Nasi Kandar Line Clear. Out of the three – the winner is Nasi Kandar Line Clear which is very popular, it even has a wall of famous people who had eaten here – including the great Anthony Bourdain himself!

Line Clear Nasi Kandar is quite a walk from Old Green House – perhaps 11-13 minutes walk – which is good to build up a good appetite! There’s quite a lot of choices and believe me – the food is worth all the walk!

 

Line clear opens 24 hours but I must say to avoid the place during peak hours or you’ll have to queue for quite a long time. It’s situated at a hallway at Jalan Penang Road and Lebuh Chulia. Coming here on weeknights ensures you don’t have to queue so long.

 

You simply queue and then make your orders – you’ll be spoiled for choice as they have various seafood, beef, lamb and chicken – cooked in various spices and sauces. You can also choose what type of rice you would like. I opted for the briyani but white rice is a better choice as you can taste the different sauces better!

 

A price list of their available menu – they are pretty generous with their portions unlike certain Nasi Kandar restaurants in Brunei, which are very stingy with their portions.

 

I ordered their honey chicken, curry squid and ladies fingers with briyani rice – and make sure you tell them to ‘sauce banjir’ which means a flood of sauces – basically they will add a bit of a few sauces from different dishes to your rice – which gives a different taste at different bite – since there’s a lot of sauces added to your dish. What can I say about the Nasi Kandar? SIMPLY THE BEST NASI KANDAR I’ve EVER tasted – the best part? You just won’t get tired of it! I could finish two plates of the rice on my own if I wasn’t so full from the food hunt! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED place for a heavy dinner or supper! SI BEH HOR CHIAK! Puts the Brunei Nasi Kandars to shame!

The map below shows walking directions from Tunes Hotel to Old Green House and then to Nasi Kandar Line Clear. You can walk back to hotel for a good night rest for good food the next morning!

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After a good night’s rest – it’s time to wake up for some more Hokkien Mee! For breakfast – we’re going to have my favourite one in the whole Penang trip. It’s Ah Soon Kor’s Mantis Prawn Hokkien Mee. What’s special about his one is that he added Mantis Prawns! He deep fries the mantis prawns and uses the oil to flavour the soup.

 

Oh what a good way to start your day! Watching the young boss fixing my delicious bowl of Har Mee ~~

 

Would you look at those deep fried mantis prawns and roasted pork! OMG! How can you not fall in love with this! *SLURPS SLURPS SLURPS* SATU LAGI PLEASE! They open at 7am but do come here early morning as it’s only sold until it runs out – on a busy day – you might even need to queue or wait!

 

Ah Soon Kor Har Mee
Sin Kim San Coffee Shop
Jalan Rangoon (off Macalister Road)
Opens from 7am to 1pm daily or until sold out!

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After the delicious Mantis Prawn Noodles – it’s time for some Curry Mee – the most famous one is the Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee.

It’s just a short walk from our previous location – less than 5 minutes walk. Just walk along McAllister Road till you see Lebuh Naning – turn in and you will find the famous Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee.

 

One of the special thing about Curry Mee is their use of pig’s blood ~ look at the blocks of delicious goodness!

 

There should be a small metal jar of chili paste for you to add to your Curry Mee. Hmm ~~ itakimasu! Nom nom ~~

 

Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee

Between Lebuh Naning and Lorong Seratus Tahun

Opens from 7:30 am till 2pm

Map below shows directions from Ah Soon Kor Hokkien mee to Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee

 

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Are you feeling full already?! There’s still more to come! My initial trip was to go to Hot Bowl White Curry Mee along Lorong Abu Siti  but I stumbled upon a busy Dim Sum place – I had to stop and try it!

 

Prosperous Dim Sum restaurant is packed with people even on a weekday!

 

They have quite a lot of choices for you to choose!

 

All sorts of steamed buns

 

What caught my attention was this braised pork belly bun! OMG HEAVEN!

 

Loads of fried dim sums and pastries

 

Bacon wrapped shrimp dim sum ~~ another one that caught my eye! How can you say no to bacon!? Simply delicious laaaa~~~ #baconlover LOL

 

Oh my Pai Kut (braised spare ribs) *DROOOLSSS*

 

Nestum Prawn rolls are very delicious too!

 

Did I mention their Liu Shar Bao (salted yolk custard buns) are simply ooozing custard goodness! OMG! YES YES YES!!!

Prosperous Dim Sum Restaurant (seriously cheap and nice Penang dim sum)

Along Lorong Abu Siti

Not too sure about the opening hours but should be early morning till noon

Now let’s go have the famous Penang WHITE CURRY MEE from Hot Bowl Restaurant. What’s interesting about Hot Bowl is that the curry is white colour!

 

See? I no kidding you right? This is because you add the curry paste yourself accordingly!

 

I did not add too much as I don’t really want to over power my tastebuds. Add the chili paste – then stir ..

 

Oooh La la ~~ Curry Mee is now ready to be served – I actually like their pigs blood – should had asked for extra pigs blood!

 

Hot Bowl is also famous for their Chicken Rice – which is pretty good but I’m not overly impressed. Can skip if you’re too full from all the dim sum!

 

Hot Bowl White Curry Mee

16-A, Lorong Abu Siti, 10400, Penang. 

Opens from 8am to 3pm; Closed on Mondays.

Map below shows directions from Lorong Seratus Tahun Curry Mee to Properous Dim Sum then to Hot Bowl White Curry Mee

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Last but not least of our makan trip is the famous Heng Huat Café’s at Lorong Selamat’s Char Kway Teow. In my opinion – this place has the best Penang char kway teow I had ever tasted. Out of the 8 stalls – this place tops my list and I must say it’s simply heavenly!

The famous two sisters who have attitude and will not give face to customers one! Be prepared to queue! I was very lucky as I arrived at non-peak hour to eat the famous Char Kway Teow.

 

She was not rude or unfriendly towards me and was in a cheerful mood on that day!

 

Her Char Kway Teow is fried using charcoal fire – which achieves a higher heat than conventional gas flames ensuring a good wok hei (caramelization) of the rice noodles!

 

I must admit – initially I thought only one plate was sufficient as I had eaten soooo much already – but my dear readers – the kway teow simply melts in your mouth – the prawns perfectly cooked and the lap cheong matches really well with the kway teow! I had never tasted such a perfect kway teow before! I ordered another big plate – and finished it happily! I can declare that this is the BEST char kway teow in Penang – CHAMPION of KWAY TEOW in Penang! Heaven on a plate I must say!

 

Kafe Heng Huat
108 Lorong Selamat
Opens from 11.30am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesdays)

Map below shows road from Hot Bowl Curry Mee to Heng Huat Kafe

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After all that meal – it’s time to sit down for a good cup of coffee and chillax a bit. A bit of research online shows Stigun Coffee Shop along Jalan Nagor – where you can admire a lot of beautiful heritage style restaurants and cafes.

 

There’s a lot more cafes and restaurants to explore here – mostly modern or western fusion restaurants!

 

The interior décor has a very nostalgic heritage feel to it.

 

Various tea and coffee making tools and mini bicycles

 

More bicycles ~~

 

Old school coffee grinders  ~~~ indeed ~~~ *inserts 60s song*

 

I ordered 'Crash Coffee’ which is similar to Greek coffee in which you let the coffee grounds settle down before you take your sip – and at the bottom of the coffee will be a lot of leftover powdery coffee which you shouldn’t drink. Very good coffee ~~ notice the coffee oils collecting on the rim of this mug.

 

Simply beautiful simple latte ~~ *sips* oooo smoooth~~

 

Serve with good Tiramisu ~~~

 

and good old cinnamon buns ~~~ sedap! Crispy pastry like texture on the outside I must say!

 

A key to their good coffee? They hand pick the good coffee beans before roasting them! Quality assurance! It’s a good ending to my Penang food hunt!

 

Stigun Café

Jalan Nagor

Opens from 8am till 9pm

Closes on Mondays

Map below shows directions from Kafe Heng Huat to Stigun Cafe

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That concludes my Penang Yummy Trail! Of course – there are a lot of other places to go – if you hire a car or take a taxi! This guide is good for those who like to explore Penang on foot. You should take a cab or hire a car if you are staying for a few more days. Check out places like Air Hitam, Batu Ferringhi and Gurney Drive – but that’s for my other Penang post. I hope my Penang food guide was useful for anyone who wishes to travel and dine in Penang on a budget!

 

Map below shows the overall directions of Day 2 Penang Food Hunt

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